SUDEP Action

Making every epilepsy death count
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October 2018

A place to thank, appreciate and celebrate our fundraisers.

Thank you to everyone who took part in a fundraising event in October, helping us to save lives and make a difference. This is what some of you got up to.

Emma Taylor’s workplace organised a fundraiser in memory of Emma’s daughter, Erin. Emma told us: “To raise awareness and money for SUDEP Action, my colleagues in the Procurement Department of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, held a cake sale, along with a prize draw and silent auction. Lots of gorgeous cakes were donated, and colleagues visited local businesses obtaining donations like haircuts, personal trainer sessions, hair products, chocolates etc for the prize draw. Donations of an afternoon tea, gym membership, pamper party and a pancake house voucher formed the silent auction. It was a huge success!!

Toni and Taryn Slade organised a fantastic Halloween party in memory of son and brother, Nathan. Toni commented: “Our Halloween Fancy Dress Party for SUDEP Action was chaotic & crazy. Everyone made an effort to dress up & there were some fabulous outfits.”

Anne O’Neill remembered her sister through a 5K run. She informed us: “I ran the Great South 5K Run on October 20th 2018 in memory of my sister Brigid Josephine Marie O'Neill, who sadly passed away on 27th November 2001. She was a kind, sweet sister and we were very close. I arrived at the start on the esplanade in Southsea on a lovely sunny morning, where there were a lot of people milling around waiting to start their 5K run for their own special reasons. We all warmed up in waves to get the muscles working. Then I went to the start line ready to start my race feeling proud and thinking of Brigid. l ran/walked to the fairground and then back along the seafront towards the finish line with a picture of Brigid on my back. Some of the other runners patted me on my back and said “Well done keeping going you are doing a great job”, which encouraged me to keep going. Not that I would have stopped, although it was painful and hard work. The spectators were also very encouraging shouting and clapping everyone. l ran towards the finish with a smile on my face, thinking of Brigid, knowing that I achieved my goal. I was especially happy because it was only my second 5K run, since my full knee replacement. l collected my t-shirt and put my lovely medal proudly around my neck. I am looking forward to doing my fifth Great South 5K Run in 2019.”

John Taylor ran Rugby Half Marathon in memory of his daughter Jessica. He informed us: “It was a very cold morning in Rugby yesterday and everyone was keen to start the run. I didn’t need to do any stretches or warm up exercises…..I figured the amount of shivering I was doing would be enough!
I did take a moment to revisit my game plan and reconsider all the advice people had given during preparation….

Just when you think you have trained enough…..train some more!

Don’t try to keep up with the elderly ladies that go dashing off at the start.

Eat loads of the Haribo sweets that were being handing out during the route (oh that was just me).

Try to enjoy the experience…

But the best bit of advice I was given…. 

Start the run slowly….then go even slower.

I managed to complete the course in just under 2 hours and 14 mins which is a lot faster than I ran during training (so much for that best bit of advice).

I’d like to add, that I was touched by the kindness of a total stranger, Zoë, who donated the entire fee for the cottage we rented, despite threats of violence (and bad reviews on Airbnb) if she did so. I recommend her cottage to you, (https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/24006403) if you ever have occasion to visit Rugby.”

If you have been inspired by reading this blog then get in touch! You can call us on 01235 772852 or email [email protected].